Gripping device



July 20,193 J Q FRIEND 2,087,758

GRIPPING DEvicE Filed July 2, 1936 INVENTOR. TOSEPH 6. FIE/END BY fif TM ATTORNEYS Patented July 20, 1937 GRIPPING DEVICE Joseph 0. Friend, Ashtabula, Ohio, assignor to Circo Products Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application July 2, 1936, Serial No. 88,638

4. Claims.

This invention relates broadly to hand tools and more specifically to improvements in instruments for the insertion and removal of electric light bulbs and/or the handling of similar articles of a fragile character.

One of the objects of t-.e invention is the provision of a gripping jaw which is adapted to encompass substantially the full circumference of a cylindrical body. as for example, the base of an electric light bulb, so that deformation thereof will be avoided upon application of compressive effort.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a resilient element to centralize the fragile portion of the object, as the globe of an electric light bulb, yet firmly engage and support the same when the gripping jaws of the device are impinged upon some other portion of the work.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a gripping instrument which may be distended for engagement over the periphery of an electric light bulb and may then be closed with the leading edge thereof in biting contact with the metallic base of the lamp.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a resilient element for gripping the glass portion or globe of an electric light bulb, the resilient element being constructed to accommodate ready assembly, renewal or replacement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an instrument for handling electric light bulbs and the like which is adapted for operation in a plane coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the light bulb.

Other objects more or less ancillary to the foregoing and the manner in which all the various objects are realized will appear in the following description which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved gripping device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the gripping device or tool including, in dotted line position, an automobile headlight bulb in its supported position;

Fig. 4 is an end View of the tool, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the preferred form of the rubber gripping element illustrated in the above figures.

In automobile headlight bulbs, particularly those of the flange type illustrated in Fig. 3,

unless manipulated with the greatest dexterity, In the 2" fracture the glass bulb of the lamp; present invention this difficulty is eliminated by the disposition of the pivotal connection and the form of the gripping jaws which facilitate the operation of the tool in coaxial alignment with the medial axis of the bulb.

2 As illustrated, the gripping device comprises a pair of tongs II], the gripping ends or jaws ll thereof being looped preferably in configuration of the article to be held thereby but of a larger perimeter than the article so that the side walls forming the jaws are circumambient the article when the tool is adjusted in operative position. The outer ends of the jaws H are formed with arcuate recesses I2 machined as shown in Fig. 4 to envelope substantially the full circumference of the base of the electric light bulb, the radii or configuration of the recesses may vary, however, with the outline and size of the object for which the tool is adapted to be used. The engaging faces of the recesses l2 are provided with serrations [3 to prevent the tool from slipping on the cylindrical portion of the base of the electric lamp when the tool is rotated during the insertion. removal or adjustment of the bulb. The side walls of the jaws II, as shown in Fig. 4, are preferably formed of fiat bar stock bent to converge outwardly from their opposed inner edges in order to adapt the glass engaging element supported thereby to conform to the contour of the globe or glass body of the electric light bulb. The pivotal connection l4 and the angular relation of the handles 15 of the gripping device are arranged to accommodate entry of the bulb over the end portion of the jaws ll, thus application and use of the tool are facilitated in environs where but little room is afforded for the entry of a tool, as for instance, the vertex of a deep parabolic reflector.

Mounted upon the looped portion of the jaws l l and extending centrally inward there is a pad or Recognizing this difficulty In such deflange I6 constructed of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The height or inner periphery of the pad is arranged to impinge and support the glass portion of the electric light bulb when the jaws are closed thereover and the edges of the jaws are engaged with the base of the bulb. As illustrated in Fig. 5 the pad l6 comprises a pair of depending inturned flanges adapted to be sprung over and frictionally supported by the side walls of the jaws H. The inner face of the pad is constructed with a plurality of vertically disposed ribs engageable with the glass bulb and formed to deformatively yield under application of excessive pressure. Obviously other forms or types of resilient pads such as sponge rubber, strips or metaliic springs may be substituted for the pad l6 disclosed above, it being understood, however, that such constructions are contemplated herein as equivalents and deemed as falling within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Although the instrument illustrated and described above is shown as adapted specifically for use in the assembly and removal of automobile light bulbs it is to be understood that the tool is adaptable for use with other objects of a similar character and that proportional changes only are necessary to adapt the tool for use in holding fragile objects or articles with polished or decorated surfaces when additional Work is to be performed upon some extended portion thereof. It is to be further understood that such use is not deemed herein as a change in kind. Therefore such changes are considered as falling within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A tool for gripping an electric light bulb comprising a pair of pivotally mounted arms, loops constituting gripping jaws on the ends thereof, said loops being formed to encircle the globe of said bulb, arcuate recesses in the ends of said loops formed to substantially encompass the full circumference of the base of said bulb, rubber pads supported by said loops, ribs thereon extended inwardly toward the center of said loop and formed for engagement with the globe of said electric light bulb.

2. A tool for gripping electric light bulbs to facilitate their assembly within their receptacles or their withdrawal therefrom comprising a pair of pivotally connected arms, looped end portions thereon, said loops being larger than the periphery of the electric light bulb for which the tool is adapted to be used, the side walls of the end portions converging outwardly throughout their width, recesses in the ends of said looped portions formed for substantial engagement with the full circumference of the base of the electric light bulb and resilient means supported by the side walls of said looped end portions for engagement with the glass globe of the electric light bulb.

3. An electric light assembly tool comprising a pair of tongs, annular jaws therein the perimeter of the inner marginal edge being greater than that of the outer marginal edge, recesses in the end walls of said jaws for engagement with the base of the electric light bulb, serrations on the face of said recesses, and resilient material supported by said jaws and extending inwardly for engagement with the glass globe of the electric light bulb.

4. An electric light assembly tool comprising a pair of arms formed of flat bar stock, a pin pivotally uniting said arms, looped end portions on said arms constituting gripping jaws, the flat bar stock forming said loops being bent toconverge from the inner opposed faces of the jaws outwardly, recesses in the end walls of the jaws for engaging the base of the electric light bulb and fluted rubber flanges mounted on said jaws and extending inwardly for engaging the glass globe of the electric light bulb.

JOSEPH C. FRIEND. 

